SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

2766920 - Error: 'This report file does not contain saved data and cannot be viewed.', when opening a report with saved data in Crystal Reports Viewer

Symptom

  • Unable to view a report with saved data.
  • Report with saved data does not open in Crystal Reports Viewer.
  • The report was saved with the option "Save Data with Report" in Crystal Reports.
  • In Crystal Reports, when opening the same report, it display the report with data.
  • In Crystal Reports Viewer, when opening a report that have saved data, it displays the message:
         
       "This report file does not contain saved data and cannot be viewed.
         
        To get data into the report please open and re-save it in the Crystal Reports
        designer application with the "Dave Data with Report" option selected"
       
      
      CR_Viewer_No_Data.png

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports Viewer 2016
  • SAP Crystal Reports Viewer 2020
  • SAP Crystal Reports Viewer 2025 

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports, open a report.
  2. Under the menu "File", check the option "Save Data with Report"
  3. Refresh the report.
  4. Save the report on your local computer.
  5. In Crystal Reports Viewer, open the report saved with data, and it displays the message: 
           
       "This report file does not contain saved data and cannot be viewed..."

Cause

  • The message usually indicates the report does not have saved data.
  • But if the report was indeed saved with data, then there are multiple reasons a report with saved data will not open in Crystal Reports Viewer, like the report uses a User Function Library (UFL), and it is not supported in Crystal Reports Viewer.

Resolution

  • To better understand why a report cannot be viewed in Crystal Reports Viewer:
      
    1. Open the report in Crystal Reports, and ensure the report contains data.

    2. If it does not have saved data:

      1. Ensure the option "Save Data with report" under the menu "File" is checked
      2. Refresh the report
      3. Save the report.

    3. If the report show saved data:

      1. Review the Crystal Reports Viewer limitations found in the SAP Knowledge Base Article 1300699
      2. Open the report in Crystal Reports to review the report design, and verify if it is one of the product limitation of Crystal Reports Viewer.    

Keywords

CRV, CR Viewer, CR Offline Viewer , KBA , BI-RA-CRV , SAP Crystal Reports Viewer , Problem

Product

SAP Crystal Reports viewer 2016 ; SAP Crystal Reports viewer 2020 ; SAP Crystal Reports viewer 2025